The Daily Mail UK
written by Eddie Wrenn
Tuesday May 8, 2012
The Eye of Horus is one of the best-known Ancient Egyptian symbols, still used in jewellery and artwork despite being more than 3,000 years old.
What is less known is exactly how important it was to everyday life in those early days of civilization, for a closer look at the eye reveals a complex mathematical system which was used as frequently as we use our numbers today.
Every line of the drawing represents a fraction - so instead of the Egyptians writing ¼, they would draw the iris of the Eye of Horus.
If Ancient Egyptians needed to buy a half measure of grain, they would just draw the outer part of the eye (on the right-hand-side of the image below). If they wanted an eighth, they would draw just the eyebrow.
The fascinating description of how the Eye of Horus was used mathematically opens up a fascinating perspective to our decimal-based numbering system.
Other measurements provided by the eye include the inner (left-hand) corner of the eye measuring a sixteenth, the line hanging vertically under the eye measuring one sixty-fourth, and the diagonal, curved line indicating 1/32.
The symbol as a whole was believed to have healing and protective powers, and was often used in the creation of amulets and other jewellery.
In terms of everyday usage, the pattern was regularly used to for trading potions and grains. Eyes could also be combined in full or in parts for more complex calculations, similar to how modern-day people may use tallies by drawing four vertical lines and adding a 'slash' to indicate five.
The symbol as a whole was believed to have healing and protective powers, and was often used in the creation of amulets and other jewellery.
In terms of everyday usage, the pattern was regularly used to for trading potions and grains. Eyes could also be combined in full or in parts for more complex calculations, similar to how modern-day people may use tallies by drawing four vertical lines and adding a 'slash' to indicate five.
In Egyptian mythology the eye of Horus was wounded and eaten by the fearsome god Seth.
Later it was restored and made whole by the ibis- headed god Thoth, the originator of mathematics, who ‘did this with his fingers’.
Which brings us forward full-circle to 3,000 years on, for - whenever we need a quick tally - our fingers are the first place we turn to.
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